Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-03-07
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GREAT is GRUvER.

Too Great In Fact to Dance Atten-
dance Upon senators and Congress
men-Me Would Not 60 TO the Capitol.
Washington, March 4-There came
near being serious rupture at the cap-
itol Just before congress adjourned. The
usual committees were appointed in
each house to wait upon the president to
notify him that congress was ready to
ad1ourn and awaited his pleasure for
further Communications. The members
OF the committee on the part of the SEN
ate were Messrs Sherman and Sauls.
bury and on the part of the house
Messrs. Morrison, Tucker and Rsed,
The president has steadily refused to
accept the advice OF friends and go the
capitol. as has been customary with chief
| executives in the past, SO as to be in a
position to handle measures as they
passed congress up to the last moment
OF the session. He did this for the pur-
pose OF teaching congress lesson in
business experience, ss he did not be-
| lieve IN the practice of holding back
bills for final action at the last moment
with view to escaping the
scrutiny of the president. Be-
sides, he said, the Presidents office
was at the white house and mer .,ures re-
curing his signature should be sent
there and be sent early enough for his
deliberate action. In other words, he
held that congress should conform to
| the convenience of the president instead
OF the reverse. 1t was shortly after III
O'CLOCK when, for the purpose of waiting
upon the president, inquiry was made
by the members of the committee
| whether Mr.. Cleveland had yet arrived
at the capitol and whether he was In
the room adjoining the senate, which
was very many years ago set aside for
the WORK of the president on the last
day OF the session of congress. A mega
tive reply was received and surprise was
expressed that President Cleveland
should ignore this old custom aud
courtesy to congress, as it is con-
venience to that body. The bills passed
| after the beginning of the last tea days
of the session must receive the signature
of the president, or they die, whereas,
| those passed prior to that time may be.
come laws without the signature of the
| president by virtue of constitutional
provision, SO it can be readily seen there
is great necessity for the president to
| be close at hand that he may sign bills
up to the last minute congress Is in
session. When the committee was in
formed that President Cleveland had re-
fused to visit the capitol and sternly
protested that 1t was the duty OF con.
gress to cater to his convenience there
| were uttered words of net only dis
| approval but contempt. Then it was
i proposed that the committee sit down
and write o report to the two houses
to the effect that it had called at the
room set apart for the occupancy of the
president on the last day of the session
OF congress and that il had not found
his e1cellency therein and that 1t had
no report to convey from him. This was
agreed to unanimously, the democratic
members OF the committee agreeing with
the republicans that Mr.. Cleveland acted
contemptuously IN refusing tc
do what all the presidents from
George Washington down to and in
cluding Arthur had done promptly. This
report was conveyed to the president
protein OF the senate and speaker of the
house, and although it was not announ-
! ced, 1t soon became noised about and
created great deal of excitement. In
stantly telegraD5 were sent to the white
house by Speaker Carlisle aud Senator
Harris, informing the president of the
action of the committee and advising
him to come to the capitol. 1t was than
after half past IL o'clock. Presently 6
dispatch was received from the executive
mansion to the effect that Mr.. Cleveland
was on bis way to the capitol. When be
arrived there were number of enroll
ed bills lying on the table in his room
and before he had examined them II
/ pCQ r'o nn5a
on the clocks in the two houses were
turned back to permit the completion q
business. Again the hour-h hand were
shading IL O'Clock and the
committee was not ready to
report from the president, and again tho
hour hands were turned back. FINALLY
the president refused to delay adjourn
ment longer, informed the committee il
could report no further communication
from him, and, drawing on his preal
coat, left hastily for the white house
but he left to die miserable and dis
graceful death number of merltorious
measures, for which members of bott
parties had worked long aud faithful,
and in which the entire country was in.
terested. Intense Indignation was ex-
pressed on every hand at the action O.
the president He should have gone Ia
the capitol last night and remained al
pight If necessary to attend to the worl
for him to do. but instead he remainee
at the executive mansion and two
carriages were required to carry clerks
back and forth with measures requiring
his signature. More than that, two o.
three extra clerks had to be enlisted so
the purpose, and it rained and showed
end was as disagreeable as could be 70
That enormous amount Of extra and nm
necessary travel.